This letter from Jawaharlal Nehru to his daughter Indira discusses imparting wisdom and inspiration during difficult times of imprisonment. Nehru explains he cannot send material presents from prison, but instead offers presents of the mind and spirit. He encourages Indira to think deeply about their discussions on history and becoming heroes during times when nations and peoples unite for great causes. Nehru praises Mahatma Gandhi's leadership in inspiring millions of Indians to work for freedom and urges Indira to play a brave role in India's movement.

3. My dear Indira,
On your birthday you have been in the habit of receiving presents and good
wishes. Good
wishes you will still have in full measure, but what present can I send you from
Naini
Prison? My presents cannot be very material or solid. They can be of the mind
and spirit,
…… Things that even the high walls of prison cannot stop.
You know sweetheart, how I dislike sermonising and doling out good advice
…….. I have
always thought that the best way to find out what is right and what is not right,
what should
be done and what should not be done, is not by giving a sermon, but by talking
and
discussing, and out of discussion sometimes a little bit of truth comes out. I
have liked my
talks with you and we have discussed many things, but the world is wide and

4. beyond our world lie other wonderful and mysterious worlds ……..none of us need
ever be bored or
imagine ……..that we have learned everything worth learning and become very
wise.
……. But what am I to do then? A letter can hardly take the place of a talk; at best it
is a
one-sided affair …… Imagine that I have made a suggestion to you for you to think
over,
as if we really were having a talk.
In history we read of great periods in the life of nations, of great men and women …
do
you remember how fascinated you were when you first read the story of Jeanne
d’Arc,
and how your ambition was to be something like her? Ordinary men and women
are not
usually heroic. They think of their bread and butter, of their children, of their
household
worries and the like. But a time comes when a whole people become interested in a
great
cause. Then history helps even simple, ordinary men and women to become

5. heroes. Great leaders have something in them which inspires a whole people and
makes them do great
deeds ……… In India a great leader, full of love for all who suffer and eager to help
them,
has inspired our people to great actions and noble sacrifice. He has helped to make
the
starving, the poor and the oppressed free and happy.
Bapuji is in prison, but the magic of his message has stolen the hearts of India’s
millions.
Men and women, and even little children, come out of their little shells and become
India’s
soldiers of freedom. In India today we are making history, and you and I are fortunate
to
see this happening before our eyes and to take some part ourselves in this great
drama.
What part shall we play in it? If we are to be India’s soldiers we have to respect
India’s honour, and that honour is a
sacred trust….. It is no easy matter to decide what is right and what is not. One little
test
I shall ask you to apply whenever you are in doubt …… Never do anything in

6. secret or anything that you would wish to hide. For the desire to hide anything
means that you are
afraid, and fear is a bad thing and unworthy of you. Be brave, and all the rest
follows …. You know that in our great Freedom Movement, under Bapuji’s
leadership, there is no
room for secrecy or hiding. We have nothing to hide. We are not afraid of what
we do or
what we say. work in the sun and in the light. Even so in our private lives let us
make
friends with the sun and work in the light and do nothing secretly……and if you
do so, my
dear you will grow up a child of the light, unafraid and serene and unruffled,
whatever may happen. I have written a very long letter to you. And yet there is
so much I would like to tell you. How can a letter contain it? Good-bye, little
one, and may you grow up into a brave soldier in India’s service.
With all my love and good wishes.
Your loving father,
Jawaharlal Nehru

7. My dear Udyan, Jan. 25,
2011
Hope everything is fine at home. I have just reached Kargil on my new posting
.At present it is very cold and the temperature is - 20°C. We try to keep
ourselves warm by lighting fires and eating a lot of dry fruits. The area is very
sensitive because militants can cross over easily. Although the situation is well
under control we have
to be vigilant all the time. Infiltrators enter our country with ease in the guise of
shepherds because of the dense trees and frozen rivers. Every movement has
to be monitored with alertness. Take care of yourself and look after your
grandparents and mother and keep writing
to me.
Yours lovingly
Dad

8. CHI. INDU, MOctober 15, 1939
You must have now lost the habit of writing Hindi. But I
must write, mustn’t I, in the rashtrabhasha ?
Have you gone there for studies or for falling ill? How did
you contract pleurisy? I have suffered the pangs of
pleurisy. May God restore you soon to health.
Blessings from
BAPU

9. SEGAON,
WARDHA,
October 16,
1939
MY DEAR CHARLIE,
I hope you got my wire. Deeper consideration made it clear to
me that I must not force the pace. Therefore I am not sending
Mahadev. God will guide every one of us. You are right in not
rushing to Calcutta. Your place is clearly there where you are. You
will [avoid]1 all anxiety.
Love.
MOHAN